Thoughts on Ali Express

[Mikestony]

I was looking for a certain item, and the only place I found it was at aliexpress.com

Makes me a little nervous ordering from that website being from China and all.

Anyone have any thoughts about ordering from there good or bad?

 

[zuben el genub]

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/safe-shop-aliexpress/

Don't know if this will help, but Alibaba is using them. Alibaba is traded on the NY stock exchange.

 

[mikedt]

I think if you're ordering from them, items do arrive and shipments are reliable. Problem sometimes comes when you have to return an item to China for exchange or refund, that's when things may become difficult and protracted.

Definitely avoid ordering famous brand name products from Ali Express, such as Levi, Nike, Samsung, Apple, etc. Alibaba Inc. and the 40,000 thieves.

 

[Bg260]

I know it has the largest collection of Android devices that I have never heard of.

 

[mikedt]

China's Alibaba back on US counterfeits blacklist - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38400222

 

[lvt]

Gearbest.com is a good alternative if you are looking for smartphone, tablet...

 

[Mikestony]

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/safe-shop-aliexpress/

Don't know if this will help, but Alibaba is using them. Alibaba is traded on the NY stock exchange.

Nice! Thank you for that link!

I think if you're ordering from them, items do arrive and shipments are reliable. Problem sometimes comes when you have to return an item to China for exchange or refund, that's when things may become difficult and protracted.

Definitely avoid ordering famous brand name products from Ali Express, such as Levi, Nike, Samsung, Apple, etc. Alibaba Inc. and the 40,000 thieves.

No problem. The item is actually a phone case that costs about 10 bucks, so even if it does get lost or whatever, I'm not out much, but I guess my worry is my credit card info. But looking at the link that @zuben el genub posted, it looks like I can take advantage of their "Escrow" service.

 

[mikedt]

I know it has the largest collection of Android devices that I have never heard of.

The Guide to Chinese Android agrees.

Basically in China, if I can't buy the phone in a brick'n'mortar store, I don't touch it.

 

[mikedt]

Gearbest.com is a good alternative if you are looking for smartphone, tablet...

Gearbest stocks and ships all merchandise themselves, whereas Ali Express is more akin to Ebay, where anyone can go on there, make a sellers account and sell whatever they like.

 

[mikedt]

My dad got a drone for Christmas, came from Ali Express. Says he's not going to try and fly it until I see him, and "because I know about these things".